Dena's RSVP Profile

LENNOX (SD) INDEPENDENT / January 29, 1987

(RSVP: Retired Senior Volunteer Program)

         
There is an old proverb that says, “she doesn’t let any grass grow under her feet!” And, that pretty well describes our lady of the Lennox RSVP group this week!

Our honoree on this occasion is Dena Plucker. She lives at 120 West Third Avenue in Lennox. One can see her traipse uptown or to the Lennox senior citizen corner (center) with a sure and steady stride. Living only a short distance from either, she has her daily walks!
 

Dena has been a volunteer for many years, but since 1985 a part of the senior program. She does much quilting at the center, and frequently serves during the noon meals. She has also been on the Lennox Life Enrichment for the Elderly (L.E.E.) Committee as a member and as a secretary completing her tenure this past year.

Dena for many years has used her musical talent to play in churches or in accompanying groups. She accompanied the Germantown Presbyterian church ladies’ trio for many years, and is the pianist for senior citizen groups and programs now. Not only did she learn piano and organ, but she also had nurse training for two years at the Huron hospital.

She began organ lessons early in life. When she was eight years old, her father purchased a piano. The purchase was made with “piano lessons thrown in,” so to speak, and the trips to Willow Lake were made by bobsled in winter time. She recalls that her hands were too numb to play, however her teacher had her warm them in a pan of hot water before beginning to play.

A young man she had met at Dubuque Academy earlier captured her heart, so instead of continuing with her nurse training, she married M.E.J. Plucker in Lennox, in 1924.

Her husband helped his father in the grain elevator on the west edge of Lennox, located on the Great Northern railroad line. For the first year and a half they lived in Lennox, then it was to Princeton, Illinois a short time, back to Dubuque for a year, and then back to South Dakota on a farm northeast of Chancellor. Moving was done by train. After five years, one more move – to the Plucker home place. Here they experienced all the difficult times of the depression – the “dirty 30’s” – along with good times. Here they reared three children.

During those years, Dena did the volunteer church work so many others also did; taught Sunday school, Junior Christian Endeavor, Vacation Bible school, Ladies’ Aid offices, and served as a piano accompanist.

Dena is a member of the Lennox American Legion Auxiliary. In that group, too, she has been a busy volunteer. At Christmas time she also helps at the Veterans Administration hospital in Sioux Falls, including shopping and wrapping Christmas gifts for patients. She also helps with bingo games there and at the Lennox Good Samaritan Center. She is a Chaplain among the officers of the Auxiliary. Whenever Dena has time for herself, she enjoys crocheting and making quilts for her grandchildren – there being ten – and also eight great-grandchildren. She also has had roles in the annual Lennox senior citizen plays.

This lady has done much traveling – from Lennox “to Timbuktu”! She has crossed the USA – New York to California, been to Alaska two times, and to New Mexico, Louisiana, and Washington State. [In 1979 she also made a trip to Luxembourg, France, Germany and Austria with her daughter, Jean.] She is a member of Faith Presbyterian Church and the women’s organizations, helping whenever and wherever needed.

Dena’s parents were Mr. and Mrs. E. Louis Thaden. She was born on a farm two and a half miles south of Chancellor. There was a full household – with 11 children. Dena was the fifth in line, and when she was only a year old the family moved to a farm near Willow Lake. She attended a country school, and walked one and a half miles daily or when necessary, traveled by bobsled during winter. After eighth grade graduation, she and a Bunger girl from Davis attended Dubuque Academy at Dubuque, Iowa for one year. Several other members of her family also went to school there, at the Academy College and Seminary. She has five brothers who went on to become church pastors.

Dena’s children are: Dorothy DeVries, Lennox; Robert Plucker, Mount Vernon, Washington; and Jean Straatmeyer, Tempe, Arizona.

  By Margaretta Bossman

(Below is the actual picture from the Lennox Independent about the RSVP crew. I can't help but notice that Dena is the prettiest one shown!)

 

DENA’S DIARY – 1969

What was life like for a newly widowed South Dakota farm woman in 1969?

 

It had to be an extremely hard time for Mom. The time between October 19, 1968 and the end of the year, she depended heavily on my sister and her husband for support. My brother and I did what we could, but mostly depended on letters from the middle of Iowa and from Washington State.

 Having been invited to Washington for the holiday season, she must have received this lovely diary for a Christmas gift. So, she doggedly wrote something down about her life every day for most of the first three months – weather, farm, church activities. She never noted any of her sadness. However, as time went on and she got to go places and do things with others, she didn’t have time to write every day.

In this diary (January – September), she only mentioned Dad once but I know that she was often in tears and could hardly tolerate speaking of him. Too bad she had to spend so much time alone, but then perhaps it was meant to be.

I know that first winter (a cold one full of snow storms and blizzards) she spent days and weeks going over all her pictures. I don’t think she actually did anything with them except look at them and wish it weren’t so... But then, in May, she bought the house in town and things began to look up.

I didn’t find a diary from 1968.

 I have included everything I found in this diary of hers. However, I won’t be upset if readers don’t wish to peruse every line. I am only including the actual wording from the diary for historical purposes. I highlighted those sections I thought were most fascinating to me.

Jan 1:                     Got home from Bob’s at the Sioux Falls airport about 11:30 p.m. Dots & Eddie were there to meet me. It was cold, around zero and lots of snow. The report was that S.F. had 28 in. of snow – the most in the USA.

Jan 2:                     I stayed with Dots & Eddie over night and the children in school decided to have their Christmas program in the PM. It was cold and some of the roads were drifted shut but everybody got there. I went home after the program.

Jan 3:                     My driveway still closed. It is still drifting a bit all the time.

Bob’s birthday – I called him in the evening. It was then 16 degrees below.

Jan 4:                     30 below this morning. Eddie came in the PM and opened the driveway. Dots came & took me along to Chancellor so I could get some needed groceries. Nola stayed overnight.

Jan 5:                     Above zero this morn. Eddie got me for church and I went home with them for dinner to celebrate Nola’s birthday.

(Deposited check for $452.38 for the beans.)

In the PM it got to 38 above and rained. Now everything is covered with ice, but luckily not the telephone and electric wires. Eddie put chains on over his snow tires to do chores over here. In the Evening, Eddie, Dots & I went to Lennox to hear the cantata put on by Turner Co. 1^st. Had coffee & pie in the bowling alley afterwards.

Jan 6:                     12 above.

Got my nylon stocking quilt out and worked on that today.

Jan 7:                     Just zero this morning and cloudy. Eddie came and got me for homemade ice cream.

Jan 8:                     Strong north west winds. 26 above, but gradually dropping. Lee Buehler is here today and not feeling well. 2:30 PM, schools closing around the area. Strong winds and blowing snow & very icy conditions.

Jan 9:                     Six below this morning. Still drifting & blowing some. The wind let up at noon. Went with Dots to Women’s  Assn. Eleven ladies there.

Jan 10:                  High was 8 above. Sioux Falls had 20 below. This one was 14 below. I washed clothes today.

Jan 11:                  Deposited $113 from Eddie for ½ a beef. Two below this morning – it snowed a little during the night. Went to Parker with Dots & Eddie. Got a furnace filter. They got TV fixed.

Jan 12:                  16 above but the wind blew enough to fill up driveway again. Eddie got me for church; walked to the road. Stayed there and came home after church in the evening.

Jan 13:                  Zero at 5am this morning but warming up. 26 above at noon. Annual meeting. Walked to the road and Dots & Eddie picked me up. Had a long meeting; over at 11:30pm.

New elders:       Alvin Plucker, Lester Dannen & Harold Freese.

Deacons:             George Heibult, Larry Poppens & Duane Steever.

Trustees:             Alfred Heibult & Harold Jacobs

Jan 14:                  27 above, snow forecast by tonight. Eddie opened drive way again. Heavy mist all PM. Sunday School meeting tonight. Lester Dannen called, would I consider being Superintendent.

 I wouldn’t.

Jan 15:                  34 above and raining. Had 27 today. Dots & Eddie here to help with income tax. Eddie got hay.

Jan 16:                  27 above. Took the car out for the first time since I’m back.

Jan 17:                  Snow again last night. Buehler got the new “Laymans” commentaries and desk and guest book from Sioux Falls. Dots came in PM and we went to church to see what it looked like. Nola stayed overnight. [The commentaries, desk and guest book were from Dad’s memorial money.]

Jan 18:                  20 above and going up.  Eddie & Ken fixed humidifier. Lorna Poppens Boterman called, could they buy an acreage. Temp going down.

Jan 19:                  Six below. Temp going up. 34 at bedtime. Dots & family here for dinner. Snow blowing again, driveway closed. Eddie took my car ‘cause Ken took theirs in the PM.

Jan 20:                  30 above, sleeting a little. Report is for cold tonight. Nixon inaugurated.

Jan 21:                   Washed my hair. Eddie opened driveway, went to Lennox with Dots & helped Wilmke P. celebrate her birthday.

Jan 22:                  30 above this morn & sleeting. Worked on my quilt today. 5:30pm now, and 6 above zero and storming.

Jan 23:                  Stormed all night and all day. Eddie couldn’t get here to do chores. I gave them hay. All schools closed, all roads closed.

Jan 24:                  Same thing again. Wind chill factor of 63 below. Six below was the high!

Eddie & Ken got as far as the bridge and then walked over.

Jan 24:                  15 below, still blowing a little but snow plow is out. Roads opened.

Jan 25:                  All roads closed again. No church, long Sunday.

Jan 26:                  No school any place. Louis Friese died last night about 11pm. Mrs. Friese alone, telephone not working and she with a cracked rib. Waited until morning, then walked to the neighbor.

Jan 28:                  6 below zero and five inches of new snow. No school again. Dots, Eddie, Faye & Nola here. Left car at church & walked here. It was 10 degrees above.

Jan 29:                  Eight above and snowing. No school here but Lennox & Chancellor have. Kenny is staying with Steevers. Roy Wilcox had a heart attack Sunday & passed away on Monday, January 27.

Jan 30:                  Four above and snowing. 63 inches so far since it started. Louis Friese’s funeral to be today; should have been yesterday. But postponed until tomorrow. Snow plow opened the road to my driveway. Dots, Eddie, Faye & Nola here. Finished working on the income tax.

Jan 31:                  Louis Friese funeral today. Bad day. Wind turned to NW blowing hard. Temp dropped from 20 degrees to five degrees in 15 minutes. Ken Buehler brought the mail.

Feb 1:                    15 below, but warmed up to over 20 degrees. Jim, Ken & Connie walked over. Jim & Ken did chores. Connie stayed all day. It was a pleasant change. Snowplow opened road from church to driveway at 9:30pm.

Feb 2:                    Four above, no wind.

Eddie picked me up at the end of the driveway & we went to church. Went with them for dinner and rest of the day. Went to Leo & Lucille in the evening.

Feb 3:                    15 below, but nice weather. Eddie & Pete opened up around the corn pile. Fuel truck came with long hose and filled fuel tank. It was low.

Feb 4:                    Beautiful winter weather. Eddie shelled a pile of his corn for feed. Afterwards Pete & Eddie opened up the driveway.

Feb 5:                    Went to Lennox and took income tax material to Simon and paid fuel oil bill. Had tea at Dots & Eddie & then went to Chancellor.

Feb 6:                    Very foggy. Called off Women’s meeting. Walked to church in the PM & helped Darlene Buehler get part of the Commentaries ready for the Library. Went with Dots & Eddie to see Vera Jean & baby in the evening.

Feb 7:                    Went with Dots & Eddie to basketball game in Lennox.

Feb 8:                    Shelled my share of corn. Served dinner for them. Ken B. brought me dried deer meat.

Feb 9:                    Minus four, but sun is shining bright.  Eddie came and got me for church. Went to the O. Cage for dinner. After dinner to Jerry & Marie. Stayed home in the evening.

Feb 10:                 Washed & ironed. Eddie brought corn check: $1895.28.

Feb 11:                                 Eddie got me and we went to Parker. Got car license and paid taxes. Went to Chancellor to deposit money and to Lennox to see about income tax. No income tax to pay. Nola is sick; she stayed home from school.

Feb 12:                 Took wax off the kitchen floor. George & Esther were here in the Eve.

Feb 13:                 Nice day, went to Women’s meeting in PM  & to Chancellor with Dots. Snow is forecast.

Feb 14:                 It is snowing & storming. Driveway closed again. Temp. is 22 above.

Feb 15:                 A long, dreary day.

Feb 16:                 Snowplow opened to driveway. Eddie picked me up at the road to go to church. Went with them to S.F. after dinner, took Dale’s car to him and went to church in the Evening.

Feb 17:                 Eddie opened driveway. Hard water cistern empty.

Feb 18:                 Elcock brought water & Dots & I went to S.F. in the PM. H. Straatmeyers here in the evening.

Feb. 19:                Road opened to East. Dots got me when she got the kids from school. Left at 5PM for S.F. to go to touranament. Lennox won by one point over Harrisburg.

Feb. 20:                Snow storming again. Everything closed up again.

Feb 21:                 30 above, but still snowing & blowing. Eddie couldn’t come. I fed the animals.

Buehler & Ken came to water the animals. Wet snow. Dots & Eddie went to the tournament with Hoogestraats.

Feb 22:                 34 above & foggy. Eddie opened the driveway. Went to the tournament in the evening.

Feb 23:                 Went to church. Eddie here for dinner. Ed & Lydia here in PM. Stayed home in the Evening.

Feb 24:                 Washed & had Lee Buehler here all day.

Feb 25:                 Sheep sheared.

Feb 26:                 Went to S.F. with Dots & Eddie. Got new Spring coat for $40. Started snowing again. Another 8 inches. 91.8 inches of snow for the season so far. Eddie put on chains in the evening and we went to the basketball game.

Feb 27:                 Jerry P. took wool to S.F. Went to the game again. Lennox won again.

Feb 28:                 Got $45.21 for wool. Fred Neeman’s mother buried in Germantown cemetery. Our group served lunch to about 30 people.

Mar 1:                   Nice weather, hair cut in Parker this PM.

Mar 2:                   Went to church. Nice weather. Spent the afternoon with Dots & Eddie. Leo & Lucille were there in the afternoon.

Mar 3:                   The sun shone for a little while. 

Mar 4                    Tournament time...........

Mar 6:                   Went to Women’s meeting. Went home at 3:00, watched Lennox play & Lennox lost by five points.

Mar 7:                   Gene & Jeanie came at noon to go to the tournament. Gene got a ticket for me for the evening game. The children stayed at Gene’s folks.

Mar 8:                   I kept the children all day. We had supper with Gene’s folks and then I went back with them. Got here at 11:00. (Colfax Center)

Mar 9:                   Two above. Went to SS & church all day.

Mar 10:                  Sun shining, but cold.

Mar 15:                 Irma wrote that Jerry is not well.

Mar 16:                 Gene is in Leoti, Kansas. Durwood Busse from Iran spoke here this morning. 50 degrees above at noon. Nice. Jeanie sewed two dresses for me. I washed walls for her.

Mar 24:                 Left from Parkersburg on bus to Sioux City. Dots & Eddie came to get me. Got home at midnight. Good to be home.

Mar 25:                 A lot of snow yet. 32 degrees above and thawing.

Mar 26:                 Eight above. Eddie, Dots & I went to Parker. Signed up 30%. Dots & Eddie, Fay & Nola here in the evening. Got the bedroom ready for papering. Tilly sent $50 for memorial for Johnny. I took it to Buehler.

Mar 27:                 38 above. Washed. Esther called. Sharon’s baby girl, Jennifer Nicole, was born the 20^th.

Mar 28:                 Ten above. Cold & windy. First calf this morning in the snow bank.

Mar 29:                 Three above. Jack Batho was here & fixed the plumbing - $22. Darlene Buehler’s birthday.

Apr 4:                    Papered the bedroom.

Apr 6:                     Easter  - Thawing, flood conditions. Sheep ate too much corn. Three died.

Apr 13:                  Went to Willow Lake. Dots, Eddie, Nola & I had dinner at Eileens. Hannah not well; fainted in store. Floods getting better.

Apr 14:                  Eddie’s birthday. Went to music festival in Lennox and then to truck stop for lunch. Ken & Karen, too.

Apr 17:                  Painted all day at Dots & Eddie’s. Finished next day, then went to County Chorus in Parker & track meet in Lennox. Brother Jerry, very sick.

Apr 21:                  Charles & Alma stopped for about ½ hour.

Apr 22:                  Planted potatoes in the garden & carrots.

Apr 23:                  Put in onions & peas.

Apr 24:                  Dots & Eddie seeded oats here.

Apr 26:                  Brother Jerry passed away Saturday morning. Funeral on Monday. Ben’s, Harm’s & I went. Bob & Judy were there, too.

May 6 – 13:         Had a permanent. Looked at Timmerman’s house. Planted beans & tomatoes.

May 14:                Mrs. LO. Weeldreyer died.

May 25:                 Looked at a house.

May 27:                Looked at house again with Dots & Eddie. He wanted $13,200, but finally came down to $12,900 & I bought it.

May 23:                Gene & Jeanie here for Ken’s graduation. Dots had about 75 people over. Bob & Judy came too. They all left Saturday morning.

May 27:                School picnic. Jennie Plucker broke her leg. Buck pushed her. Fell in the night & broke a rib. Took her to hospital.

*May 29:             Delivered urn on Dad’s grave. Finished mowing yard.

June 1:                  Looked at Tony Salem house.

June 3:                  Bought house for $12,900.

June 9:                  Worked all week removing varnish from woodwork. Esther helped.

June 16:               Finishing wood work.

June 17:                Went to Parker home. Children sang.

June 23:                Faye to camp. Jeanie & children came. Stayed at Straatmeyers.

June 24:               Jean helped get things ready for sale.

June 25:               Dots, Eddie & I worked at house in AM while Nola was in school.

June 26:               Jean here helping. SS picnic in Evening.

June 27:               Sale. Got $8,600 for acreage and $1,098.50 for rest of sale. Art, Edgar & Eileen here.

July 3:                    Storm – hail pretty had. Worse at Eddie’s, 1-1/2 inch of rain. Eddie, Dale, Ken, Dick & Merlin put new ceilings in the evening.

July 4:                    Hot & humid.

*July 26:              Moved to Lennox. Hard to know where to put everything. Faye stayed with me the first evening and Nola the next evening. I was glad they did. Wish Dad could be here with me.

August

Arranged for prayer meetings for Crusade. Had the first meeting.

Dug potatoes, carrots & onions.

Pretty well settled.

Had check from Bob for $160 for fare to go to Everett.

Aug 15:                 Gene, Jeanie & family came. All staying here.

Aug 16:                  Had everybody here for picnic supper on my lawn. Karen & Elaine here too.

Aug  17:                Went to State Line with the Gene’s.

Aug 19:                 Went to Canton with Gene. Paid the last half of the taxes on my house and had deed recorded.  Will leave for Bobs Thursday evening. Fly to Fargo & then take the train to Everett. Will arrive there at 6:30 Saturday AM.

Aug 20:                 Enjoyed train ride but tired. Bob said I better go home via plane.

Sept 8:                   Had a real good time at Bob’s. Stayed at Mae’s two nights. Met Barb’s Dad & wife. Flew home; had to change in Bismarck. Dots, Eddie, Nola, Faye & Joe & Les there to meet me in S.F.  Jo & Les left again next morning.

Sept 18:                Pilot light turned on in furnace. Richard Fokken worked on basement drain.

Sept 21:                Mission Fest.

Sept 23:                Went to Yankton, group C & D.

Sept 24:                38 degrees.

COUSINS REMEMBERING GRANDMA PLUCKER

Here is a visit (via email) I had about three years ago (February, 2010) with two cousins. We are all grandchildren of Christina Rebecca Plucker. My father was Menne Elvin (MEJ), Lydia’s mother was Lydia Martha Verna and Don was the son of Alma Christina. Much of the information I write about regarding the Plucker side of my family comes from Eleanor Skoog (Engle Anna’s daughter).

 

 From Jean (MEJ’s daughter):

 I was "privileged" to be able to stay with Grandma and Grandpa quite often when I was little. I some fond memories. Grandma used to make her own cottage cheese and I watched that process. But mostly I remember everyone trundling off to their beds right after noon dinner, for a nap. Grandma in her bed and Grandpa in his.

It was a source of much interest to me when I was a pre-teen that Grandma Plucker had her ears pierced when she was young. What happened? Why did she do that? How old was she? What did her parents think? Did she have a bit of a “wild” streak in her? When I would question her about it, she didn’t want to talk about it. She would just say, “yes, I had pierced ears, but the holes grew closed a long time ago.” The subject really piqued my curiosity, but I knew better than to go on. When did she stop wearing earrings? What kind of earrings did she wear? Did her preacher father force her to take them out? Did her step mother? Was there a huge problem with that? Or did she have them still when she married Grandpa? Did he tell her it wasn’t good to have them?

From Lydia (Lydia Martha Verna's daughter):

I had no idea that she had pierced ears.  I think I did it after I was married too and was also a bit wary of what my mother would say.  But, of course, my mom always had lots of earrings; clip on type, so she really couldn't quibble over the piercing.

I often do think of Christina Rebecca and wonder what kind of person she was, what affect the step-mother had on her and how the preacher father acted (was he super stern, for example). I wonder if she was interested in fashion.  I know my mother was and had quite a repertoire of sexy (self-made) clothes and fashionable pins and jewelry from before she was married.

 

[And whenever they came for a visit, Lydia practiced her piano pieces on Grandma’s piano in the back living room.]

                                                                                                                                                               

 From Don Wadleigh (Alma Christina's son):

As you mention things, I get a vague recollection of that sort of thing, like the braiding of the hair and taking naps.  I remember that I was always sent to the little bedroom at the top of the stairs.  And there was also a green quilt with panels of tulips or bunnies on it.  I still have and use one of those.  It's pretty shop-worn now.

She always had a nightgown on or at least the same looking garment all the time.  I probably either have good memories or no memories. She was never anyplace other than in the pantry or the kitchen.  It was very difficult to get her outside.  Usually only for pictures.  She would lay out the garden I remember.

She was always just a presence, rather than a person.  She was always hovering around that little kerosene-burning stove in the kitchen. 

Some of the most pleasant memories were when she would get out the demitasse cups at tea time in the afternoon and we "little folks" could use them to drink tea.  And Grandpa taught us how to cool our tea by pouring it into the saucer and then drinking it out of that.  He also taught us how to soften the cookies by dunking them in our cups.

I remember that she explained to me how the dumbwaiter worked.  Maybe it says something that I didn't believe her, not until Grandpa explained it to me the same way and Dad confirmed it.

The other two main memories I have of her are her teaching us how to shell peas and break off the ends of the green beans and that she had this big jar of rock candy (big sugar crystals on a string) in the stairway to the basement.

And of course we all probably remember her in the hospital bed in the living room.

None of these helps get any insight into her personality or her as a person.  You may be right that she was influenced, perhaps in a negative way, by her step mother.  Mom used to call that lady "Helen Wheels."  [Pretty cute play on words, Don.]

Given all that, please realize that many of my memories are reinforced by the pictures that I have of events around that house, or items from that house that I still have.  And what is telling about the things I have is that I have nothing that "belongs" to Grandma, but lots of things of Grandpa.  I still talk to "clock" every day.  She is still running, just got a grease job about a year ago, and sounds just as good as ever.  She does have a tough time lasting more than six days on one winding where she used to run at least eight.

 

[Don has the “Grandfather’s Clock” that was in the Plucker kitchen behind the table. It was always Grandpa’s job to keep the clock on time.]

 

Grandma, Alma, Don, Grandpa (1945)

 

 

 This is Cindee, Jean's daughter, Jan. 17,2022.  Just talked to Eleanor Skoog on the phone (that's Aunt Annie's daughter who is 92.)  She told me that Great Grandma had really terrible arthritis and it was almost crippling, but she could walk.